Windmill.



J. B. SMITH.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. SMITH, OF SAN SALBA, TEXAS.

WINDMILL.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Saba, in the county of San Saba and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windmills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to windmills, and has as its object to provide an improved rotor, the same being so constructed as to be driven by the wind, regardless of the direction from which the wind is blowing. Incidentally, the invention aims to obviate the use of a vane for turning the rotor to the wind.

It is a further aim of the invention to so construct the rotor that the full force of the Wind will be utilized in driving the same.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which z- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wind mill embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view through the lower portion of the windmill.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawing by the same reference characters.

In the drawing the numeral 1 indicates a base upon which the rotor embodying the present invention is mounted, this base being supported by the usual framework 2.

Mounted upon the base 1 and extending vertically therefrom are standards 3 which, at their upper ends support an annular frame 4. Spider arms 5 extend inwardly radially from the frame 4. and at their inner ends are connected to and support a sleeve 6 provided at its upper and lower ends with flanges 7.

The rotor embodying the present invention includes an annular base 9 and a top 10 which is also annular in form, and certain of the vanes of the rotor are supported by and extend between the said base and top, and these vanes are preferably formed each from a sheet metal blank and each is indicated by the numeral 11. Each vane has at its upper and lower edges attaching flanges 12 through which and the base 9 and top 10 are secured bolts 13. These portions of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 3, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Serial No. 718,315.

vanes are curved in the same arc as the base 9 and top 10, and the vanes beyond their attached portions are curved spirally as at 14, their free edges being located adjacent to the shaft of the rotor which is indicated at 15. The shaft 15 is fixed in collars 16 which are supported by spider arms 17 which extend inwardly from the annular base-frame and top-frame 10, and preferably the inner corners of the vanes 11 are secured to these spider arms. It will be understood from inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawing, that the vanes in horizontal section describe a spiral curve, and it will also be observed that the attached edge or side of each vane is spaced a considerable distance from the inner edge of the next adjacent vane, so that the wind may enter between the vanes and, strike against the inner portions thereof rotating the rotor.

In addition to the vanes 11 there are provided other vanes which are indicated by the numeral 18 and these latter vanes are of greater width at their lower ends than at their upper ends and are curved spirally, and at their said lower ends are secured to the top frame 10 by the bolts 13 and at their upper ends to the shaft 15 adjacent the upper ends thereof. The shaft 15 is journaled at its upper end in the sleeve 6, bearing rollers 19 being arranged within the said sleeve and surrounding the shaft.

A head 7 a is secured upon the base 9 and is provided in its upper side with a ball-race in which are arranged bearing-balls 8. A collar 8 is fixed upon the shaft 15 and is formed with a ball-race matching the race in the head 7*. It will be understood that the weight of the shaft and the elements supported thereby is sustained by the bearings 8.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be seen that there is provided a windmill rotor which will be caused to rotate by the force of wind blowing in any direction, afid it will further be seen that the use of a vane for turning the rotor to the wind is obviated.

It will be apparent that the vanes 18, because of their peculiar arrangement about the shaft of the rotor, always present a considerably effective surface to the wind, irrespective of the direction from which the wind is blowing and consequently insure rotation of the rotor whenever any wind is blowing, the other vanes of course actively assisting this rotation when the rotor is once started.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In a windmill, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame for rotation, frame members supported upon the shaft for rotation therewith, an annular series of vanes supported by the said frame members and heli- Cally curved inwardly toward the shaft, and other vanes curved upwardly and inwardly from one of the frame members and secured at their upper ends to the shaft.

coplesof this patent may be obtained for 5+6 cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington D. C. 

